The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-05-19
THE CZAR'S PRISON HOME.
The Great Catchina Fortress in Which
He Hides in Terror.

He Hides in Terror.
''Quis custodist ipsos crlstodes?" is the
reflection which springs into ones mind
on hearing the rumors as to attempts on
the car S life in his rural retreat at Cat
china. The country house inhabited by
the autocrat Of all the Russias is nothing
more nor less than q fortress surrounded
by moats, with a strong garrison, and
situated in the midst of an immense
camp, in which countless detachments of
soldiers, horse, foot, artillery and even
engineers, are quartered. Yet even here
the life of the sovereign is exposed to
various perils, chief among which is the
notorious disaffection Of portions Of his
vast army. The time was when the czar
could at least reckon on the fidelity of
his troops, and ON the blind and unrea-
soning devotion Of the liberated serfs.
Now all is changed. 1t is acknowledged
that the revolutionary movement has
spread with appalling and significant
rapidity, even to classes which had always
been regarded as trustworthy.
Meanwhile, however, Alexander III
has no alternative but to make the best
of the situation. Picked soldiers guard
him day and night at Gatchina, and the
strictist discipline prevails in the fortress
castle. A writer who a short time ago
had the rare privilege of an introduction
to the presence Of the czarina, gives a
graphic account of his visit, and of the
precautions taken to prevent any nishap.
Travelling from st. Petersburg to Catch
ina in company with Gen. Ignatieff and
Gen. Baumgarten, one of the emperor S
aides de camp, he noticed all along the
route small detachments of engineers
encamped in the open air at short inter
walls from each other. Cossacks, mounted
on their small horses, gallOped about
in every direction. The party were
fetched at the station by one of the
imperial carriages, which started off al
full speed, and, after crossing a bridge,
strongly guarded, arrived at huge gate
way, at which the writer and his com
panions had to show their papers. Thence
they were conducted to wing Of the
palace, where the same ceremonial was
gone through, after which they were
taken through q perfect labyrinth Of
passages and staircases to rooms reserved
for them. The writer was asked il he
would have luncheon or tea, and was
then left to himself until the hour ap
pointed for his audience. AT noon Gen
Baumgarten came to fetch him.
On the way to the central building h(
saw the steps crowded with sentries, whC
/ in turn presented arms with such dir
that he shrewdly suspected that the moist
was intended to warn their comrade;
further off of the arrival of a stranger
Next a large hall, in which 100 soldiers O.
the guard were on duty, was traversed
AT the further end the visitor had again
to exhibit his papers, and after ascending
a magnificent staircase and crossing a hal
in which gigantic Moor in a superl
costume, and two huge Teherkesses armed
to the teeth with dirks and pistols were
stationed, he was introduced by a MAJ
servant into a small but elegant drawing
! room, whence he passed, under the con
duct Of one of the gentlemen on service
| into the empress reception room, Afte1
! half an hour conversation, in the cOurst
| of which her ma jesty remarked that there
| were some very impiOus men i'll Russia
| the writer withdrew, but ere he tool
| leave of Gen. Baumgarten the latter, re
ferring to the frankness with which h(
| had spoken, told him that no Russian
would have dared give advice to tn,
czarina, jokingly adding; Take care
You may be sent to Siberia, What cal
! be more characteristic than this rap
proachment of the aide de camps grin
| jest about Siberia and the precaution
taken by the sovereign to avert all DANCE
from himself and his family y.--Londol
Telegraph.